System and method to transmit data packets via a cellular network

ABSTRACT

A method includes receiving a media stream at a media device and converting, at the media device, the media stream into data packets. The method includes initiating, with the media device, end-to-end connections between the media device and a receiving device via a plurality of cellular network and determining, at the media device, a quality of service factor for each cellular network of the plurality of cellular networks. The method includes selecting, at the media device, a single cellular network of the plurality of cellular networks based on the quality of service factor for each cellular network of the plurality of cellular networks. The method also includes transmitting the data packets from the media device via the single cellular network to the receiving device.

CLAIM OF PRIORITY

This application claims priority from, and is a continuation of, U.S.patent application Ser. No. 13/441,341, filed on Apr. 6, 2012, which isincorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure is generally related to transmission of digitalbroadcast grade video.

BACKGROUND

A media broadcaster may provide media content, such as media coverage ofevents and news, in real-time from a remote location to viewers of atelevision network. The remote location may not support a direct datacommunication connection to a host location (e.g., a broadcast stationor a television studio) that supports transmission of the media contentas digital broadcast grade video. Whether the media broadcaster cantransmit media content in real-time from the remote location to the hostlocation as the digital broadcast grade video depends in part on thetype of data communication connection utilized for transmission.

The type of data communication connections that may allow transmissionfrom the remote location may include a “line of sight” connection (e.g.,a point-to-point microwave connection and a satellite uplink/downlinkconnection), a point-to-point fiber video circuit connection, aterrestrial connection supporting video signal to SONET multiplexing,and an internet protocol terrestrial network connection. In atransmission system that utilizes a line of sight connection, atransmitting antenna associated with a transmitting video camera mayutilize an unobstructed line of sight with a relay satellite or amicrowave relay station for transmission. In a transmission system thatutilizes the point-to-point fiber video circuit connection, transmissionis limited by a geographic location of hardware associated withconnections of the point-to-point fiber video circuit.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram of a particular embodiment of a system to transmitdigital broadcast grade video;

FIG. 2 is a diagram of another illustrative embodiment of a system totransmit digital broadcast grade video;

FIG. 3 is a flow chart of a particular embodiment of a method totransmit digital broadcast grade video; and

FIG. 4 is an illustration of an illustrative embodiment of a generalcomputer system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In a particular embodiment, a method includes receiving a media streamthat includes digital broadcast grade video. The method further includescompressing the media stream to form a compressed digital media streamusing a Joint Photographic Experts Group 2000 (J2K) compliantcompression coding system. The method further includes converted thecompressed digital media stream into data packets. The method furtherincludes selecting a cellular data network from a plurality of availablecellular data networks based on one or more quality of service factors.The method further includes transmitting the data packets via theselected cellular data network.

In another particular embodiment, a computer-readable medium isdisclosed that includes operational instructions that, when executed bya processor, cause the processor to perform a method including receivinga media stream that includes digital broadcast grade video. The methodfurther includes compressing the media stream to form a compresseddigital media stream using a J2K compliant compression coding system.The method further includes converting the compressed digital mediastream into data packets and causing the data packets to be transmittedvia a cellular data network.

In another particular embodiment, a system includes a processor and amemory accessible to the processor. The memory includes instructionsthat, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform amethod that includes receiving a media stream that includes digitalbroadcast grade video. The method further includes compressing the mediastream to form a compressed digital media stream using a J2K compliantcompression coding system. The method further includes converting thecompressed digital media stream into data packets and causing the datapackets to be transmitted via a cellular data network.

Referring to FIG. 1, a particular embodiment of a system to transmitdigital broadcast grade video is illustrated and is designated 100. Thesystem 100 includes a video transmission system 102 that includes aprocessor 104 and a memory 106 that is accessible to the processor 104.The video transmission system 102 may be integrated with a video camera160, may be a separate computing device attached to the video camera160, or may be another component of a video distribution system.

The memory 106 may include instructions that are executable by theprocessor 104 to cause the processor 104 to perform one or more methodsat the video transmission system 102. For purposes of description, theinstructions are illustrated in FIG. 1 as organized within functionalmodules within the memory 106. For example, the memory 106 may include avideo receiver 110, a compression engine 112, a packetizer 114, and atransmission engine 116. In other embodiments, one or more functionsdescribed herein as performed by the processor 104 executinginstructions from the memory 106 may instead be performed by dedicatedhardware (e.g., application specific integrated circuits, programmablelogic arrays and other hardware devices) or by a combination of thehardware and software.

The video receiver 110 may be executable by the processor 104 to receivea media stream that includes digital broadcast grade video. For example,the video receiver 110 may receive a media stream including digitalbroadcast grade video from the video camera 160 (or from a component ofthe video camera 160). When the video transmission system 102 is acomponent external to the video camera 160, the video transmissionsystem 102 may include a video interface (not shown) that is operable toreceive input associated with the media stream via one or moreconnectors (e.g., HDMI cables). The media stream may include the digitalbroadcast grade video captured during operation of the video camera 160,audio data (e.g., digital audio), user data, other related data (e.g.,control data, location information, time and date information, andmetadata), or any combination thereof. In another example, the mediastream may be received at the video transmission system 102 from apost-production source. In a particular embodiment, the media streamincludes digital broadcast grade video and digital audio and istransmitted to the video transmission system 102 from the video camera160 or a component of the video camera 160 in real-time (i.e., as thedigital broadcast grade video and digital audio is received at the videocamera 160 or a component of the video camera 160, without being storedto a stored file).

The digital broadcast grade video may be compliant with a Society ofMotion Picture and Television Engineers (SMPTE) 424M standard, a SMPTE292M standard, or a SMPTE 259M standard. In a particular embodiment, thedigital broadcast grade video may include high definition (e.g., atleast 1080i video quality standard) 3-D video. In a particularembodiment, the digital broadcast grade video may include highdefinition video that satisfies a video quality standard of at least1080p and that is compliant with the SMPTE 424M standard.

The compression engine 112 may be executable by the processor 104 tocompress the media stream using a J2K compliant compression codingsystem to form a compressed digital media stream. The J2K compliantcompression coding system supports compression of media streams thatinclude both digital broadcast grade video and digital audio. The J2Kcompliant compression coding system supports compression of highdefinition video that satisfies the video quality standard of at least1080p and that is compliant with the SMPTE 424M standard. In aparticular embodiment, the compressed digital media stream may includethe digital broadcast grade video, the digital audio, othercompression-related data, or any combination thereof.

The packetizer 114 may be executable by the processor 104 to convert thecompressed digital media stream into data packets (e.g., internetprotocol data packets or data packets that conform to another digitalcommunication protocol). The packetizer 114 may perform the conversionaccording to real-time transport protocol (RTP) standard, which definesa standardized packet format that enables delivery of audio and videoover a network that supports internet protocol transmission. In aparticular embodiment, the packetizer 114 performs conversion on thecompressed digital media stream produced by the compression engine 112without retrieving the compressed digital media stream from a filestored in the memory 106. That is, the compression engine 112 mayprovide the compressed digital media stream directly to the packetizer114 or the compression engine 112 may store the compressed digital mediastream in a buffer or cache from which the packetizer 114 reads thecompressed digital media stream, without storing the compressed digitalmedia stream in a stored file (e.g., a text file, a video file, or ametafile). Performing conversion on the compressed digital media streamwithout having to retrieve a stored file may reduce delay in videoprocessing that occurs prior to transmission of the digital broadcastgrade video. In a particular embodiment, the packetizer 114 may becapable of converting a plurality of compressed digital media streamsinto data packets. The data packets may include more than one compresseddigital media stream.

The transmission engine 116 may be executable by the processor 104 tocause the data packets to be transmitted to a receiver 140 via acellular data network 126. The cellular data network 126 may supportdata transmission (e.g., internet protocol data transmission). Forexample, the cellular data network 126 may support data transmissionaccording to the RTP standard. Further, the cellular data network 126may support one or more wireless cellular data communication compliantstandards including code division multiple access (CDMA), time divisionmultiple access (TDMA), frequency division multiple access (FDMA),orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA), single-carrierfrequency division multiple access (SC-FDMA), a global system for mobilecommunications (GSM), enhanced data rates for GSM evolution (EDGE),evolved EDGE, Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS),Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (Wi-Max), general packetradio service (GPRS), 3rd generation partnership project (3GPP), 3GPP2,4th generation (4G), long term evolution (LTE), 4G-LTE, high speedpacket access (HSPA), HSPA+, or any combination thereof. The cellulardata network 126 may include or may be in communication with basestations 122, 132 that enable communications via the cellular datanetwork 126. Each of the base stations 122, 132 may be communicativelycoupled to the cellular data network 126, via a data communicationconnection 128, 138. The data communication connection 128, 138 mayinclude a wired connection, an optical fiber connection, a wirelessconnection, other data connection, or any combination thereof.

The receiver 140 may be communicatively coupled to the cellular datanetwork 126 via the wired data communication connection 138 to the basestation 132 and a data communication connection 148 to the base station132. The base station 122 may communicate the data packets to thereceiver 140 via the cellular data network 126, the base station 132, orany combination thereof. The data communication connection 148 mayinclude a wired connection, an optical fiber connection, a wirelessconnection, or any combination thereof.

The video transmission system 102 may include or may be operativelycoupled to one or more modems, such as a representative modem 120, totransmit the data packets to the receiver 140 via the cellular datanetwork 126. The modem 120 may include one or more wireless cellulardata communication modems that support wireless cellular datacommunication via the cellular data network 126 according to one or moreof the wireless cellular data communication compliant standardssupported by the cellular data network 126. The modem 120 may becommunicatively coupled to the base station 122 to facilitate a wirelesscellular data communication 118 with the cellular data network 126according to one or more of the wireless cellular data communicationcompliant standards supported by the cellular data network 126. In aparticular embodiment, the video transmission system 102 may use themodem 120 to transmit the data packets via the cellular data network 126by communicating with the base station 122, via the wireless cellulardata communication 118. In a particular embodiment, the videotransmission system 102 may utilize a single modem (e.g., the modern120) to transmit the data packets in real-time via the cellular datanetwork 126. Thus, in particular embodiments, the system 100 avoids theadditional cost of using multiple cellular data modems to transmit data(e.g., digital broadcast grade video) to the receiver 140.

Prior to transmission of the data packets, the transmission engine 116may analyze the wireless cellular data communication with the receiver140 via the cellular data network 126. For example, the transmissionengine 116 may establish an end-to-end link between the videotransmission system 102 and the receiver 140 via the cellular datanetwork 126 to ensure that the receiver 140 is communicatively coupledto the cellular data network 126 and is able to receive the data packetswhen the data packets are transmitted by the video transmission system102. The transmission engine 116 may determine whether the wirelesscellular data communication via the cellular data network 126 issuitable to transmit the data packets. For example, the transmissionengine 116 may determine whether the cellular data network 126 iscapable of transmitting the data packets in real-time. In a particularembodiment, the transmission engine 116 may determine whether thecellular data network 126 is capable of transmitting the data packets inreal-time by determining a status of the wireless cellular datacommunication via the cellular data network 126 based on one or morequality of service (QoS) factors. The cellular data network may supportreal-time monitoring of QoS that may allow the one or more QoS factorsto be determined. For example, a cellular data network (e.g., thecellular data network 126) that supports the RTP standard may permit theone or more QoS factors to be obtained using real-time transport controlprotocol (RTCP) messages. The QoS factors may include, but are notlimited to, bandwidth, priority of traffic, throttle of traffic,latency, delay, jitter, and packet loss. In a particular embodiment ofthe system 100 where the video transmission system 102 transmits thedata packets to the receiver 140 in real-time, the video transmissionsystem 102 does not aggregate bandwidth of the cellular data network 126and does not aggregate multiple data transmission streams of thecellular data network 126 to transmit the data packets to the receiver140.

To determine whether the cellular data network 126 is capable oftransmitting the data packets in real-time, the transmission engine 116may compare one or more of the QoS factors to a QoS threshold. The QoSthreshold may be user-defined or may be selected to facilitatetransmission of digital broadcast grade video. For example, datatransmission via a cellular data network may satisfy the QoS thresholdwhen the cellular data network is capable of transmitting the datapackets in real-time (e.g., without delay that would adversely affectvideo quality of digital broadcast grade video provided to the receiver140). For example, an operator of the video transmission system 102 maydefine the QoS threshold and may store the QoS threshold within thememory 106 to be accessible by the transmission engine 116.

In another particular embodiment, the transmission engine 116 maydetermine whether the cellular data network 126 is capable oftransmitting the data packets in real-time based on determining whetherlatency of the cellular data network 126 is below a latency threshold.The latency threshold may be user-defined and based at least in part ona latency value that may permit data transmission of digital broadcastgrade video in real-time (e.g., without affecting quality of the digitalbroadcast grade video provided to the receiver 140) across the cellulardata network 126. For example, the latency value may be selected atleast in part to reduce delay that occurs during the data transmissionof the digital broadcast grade video and that affects the quality of thedigital broadcast grade video received by the receiver 140.

In a particular embodiment, the digital broadcast grade video includeshigh definition video that satisfies a video quality standard of 1080p,and the video transmission system 102 transmits the data packets via thecellular data network 126 using a single modem 120. In this embodiment,the cellular data network 126 may be 4G-LTE compliant. A 4G-LTEcompliant cellular data network may provide reduced transmission delayand latency while transmitting high definition video that satisfies thevideo quality standard of 1080p and that has been compressed using theJ2K compliant compression coding system. The digital broadcast gradevideo may be transmitted to the receiver 140 in real-time whentransmitted in the manner specified according to this embodiment.

The receiver 140 may receive the data packets that are transmitted fromthe video transmission system 102 via the cellular data network 126. Ina particular embodiment, the receiver 140 may include or may be acomponent of a broadcast station that receives the data packets from thebase station 132, processes media content of the data packets, andtransmits digital broadcast grade video to one or more viewers (e.g.,via a television channel broadcast). The broadcast station may processthe data packets to obtain the media stream including the digitalbroadcast grade video to be distributed via a television network. Inanother embodiment, the broadcast station may transmit the data packetsto a production studio to be processed to obtain the media streamincluding the digital broadcast grade video. The data packets receivedat the receiver 140 may be processed to obtain the compressed digitalmedia stream. A decompression coding system, corresponding to the J2Kcompliant compression coding system, may be applied to the compresseddigital media stream to be decompressed to produce the media stream thatincludes the digital broadcast grade video. When the compressed digitalmedia stream includes both the digital broadcast grade video and thedigital audio, the media stream, produced from application of thedecompression coding system, includes both the digital broadcast gradevideo and the digital audio.

In a particular embodiment, the video transmission system 102 isincluded within the video camera 160, and the modem 120 iscommunicatively coupled to the video camera 160. In this particularembodiment, the video camera 160 may enable a media broadcaster totransmit the media stream through the modem 120 in real-time as it iscaptured by the video camera 160 at a remote location. The transmissionof the media stream in this manner may eliminate additional equipment orhardware needed to transmit the media stream to the receiver 140 via thecellular data network 126. Other embodiments may support thattransmission of the media stream in the manner described above. In oneembodiment, the video transmission system 102 and the modem 120 areincluded within the video camera 160. In another embodiment, the videocamera 160 includes the modem and is separate from the transmissionsystem 102. In another embodiment, the video camera is separate from thevideo transmission system 102, which includes the modem 120.

In operation, the video camera 160 may send the media stream includingthe digital broadcast grade video (and perhaps other data, such asdigital audio, user data, and control data) to the video transmissionsystem 102. For example, a camera operator may capture the digitalbroadcast grade video using the video camera 160, which transmits themedia stream including the digital broadcast grade video to the videotransmission system 102. The video receiver 110 may receive the mediastream from the video camera 160. The compression engine 112 maycompress the media stream to form the compressed digital media streamusing the J2K compliant compression coding system. The packetizer 114may convert the compressed digital media stream into data packets (suchas internet protocol data packets) to be transmitted via the cellulardata network 126. The transmission engine 116 may utilize the modem 120to transmit the data packets to the receiver 140 via the cellular datanetwork 126. The receiver 140 may process the data packets to obtain themedia stream to distribute the digital broadcast grade video, thedigital audio, the other data, or any combination thereof to a broadcaststation.

Thus, the system 100 of FIG. 1 may enable a broadcast station to receivedigital broadcast grade video transmitted from a remote location havingaccess to an available cellular data network. Further, the system 100enables real-time transmission of the digital grade broadcast video froma remote location over the cellular data network 126 by use of the J2Kcompliant compression coding system and subsequent conversion of thecompressed digital media stream into the data packets without storingthe compressed digital media stream into a stored file before theconversion.

Referring to FIG. 2, another illustrative embodiment of a system totransmit digital broadcast grade video is illustrated and is designated200. The system 200 refers to certain elements of the system 100described with respect to FIG. 1. Additionally, the video transmissionsystem 102 in the system 200 may select a particular cellular datanetwork (e.g., the cellular data network 126) from a plurality ofcellular data networks 126, 136, 146.

The memory 106 may include instructions that are executable by theprocessor 104 to cause the processor 104 to perform one or more methodsat the video transmission system 102. For purposes of description, theinstructions are illustrated in FIG. 2 as organized within functionalmodules within the memory 106 and described with respect to the videotransmission system 102 of FIGS. 1 and 2. For example, the videotransmission system 102 may include the memory 106 that includes a videoreceiver 110, a compression engine 112, a packetizer 114, and atransmission engine 116 as in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2. In another example, thememory 106 of the video transmission system 102 in FIG. 2 may furtherinclude a network selector 224. In other embodiments, one or morefunctions described herein as performed by the processor 104 executinginstructions from the memory 106 may instead be performed by dedicatedhardware (e.g., application specific integrated circuits, programmablelogic arrays and other hardware devices) or by a combination of hardwareand software.

The network selector 224 may be executable by the processor 104 toselect a particular cellular data network from a plurality of cellulardata networks 126, 136, 146 to transmit data packets (produced by thepacketizer 114) to the receiver 140. The plurality of cellular datanetworks includes, but is not limited to, the plurality of cellular datanetworks 126, 136, 146 shown in the system 200.

Each cellular data network of the plurality of cellular data networks126, 136, 146 may support data transmission (e.g., internet protocoldata transmission). For example, each cellular data network of theplurality of cellular data networks 126, 136, 146 may support datatransmission according to the RTP standard. Each cellular data networkof the plurality of cellular data networks 126, 136, 146 may support oneor more wireless cellular data communication compliant standardsincluding CDMA, TDMA, FDMA, OFDMA, SC-FDMA, GSM, EDGE, evolved EDGE,UMTS, Wi-Max, GPRS, 3GPP, 3GPP2, 4G, LTE, 4G-LTE, HSPA, HSPA+, or anycombination thereof. Each cellular data network of the plurality ofcellular data networks 126, 136, 146 may include or may be incommunication with base stations 122, 132 (or other base stations notshown) that enable communications via each cellular data network of theplurality of cellular data networks 126, 136, 146.

Each of the base stations 122, 132 may include one or more base stationsor components that enable communication via each cellular data networkof the plurality of cellular data networks 126, 136, 146 according toone or more of the wireless cellular data communication compliantstandards. Each of the base stations 122, 132 may support communicationwith one or more cellular data networks of the plurality of cellulardata networks 126, 136, 146 according to the one or more of the wirelesscellular data communication compliant standards. Each of the basestations 122, 132 may be communicatively coupled to one or more cellulardata networks of the plurality of cellular data networks 126, 136, 146via a data communication connection 128, 138. Each data communicationconnection 128, 138 may include one or more data communicationconnections that enable communication between each of the base stations122, 132 and each cellular data network of the plurality of cellulardata networks 126, 136, 146. The data communication connection 128, 138may include a wired connection, an optical fiber connection, a wirelessconnection, other data connection, or any combination thereof. In aparticular embodiment, each of the base stations 122, 132 may includeone or more base stations or components that correspond to one or morecellular data networks of the plurality of cellular data networks 126,136, 146.

The receiver 140 may be communicatively coupled to each cellular datanetwork of the plurality of cellular data networks 126, 136, 146 via thedata communication connection 138 to the base station 132 and a datacommunication connection 148 to the base station 132. The base station122 may communicate the data packets to the receiver 140 via onecellular data network of the plurality of cellular data networks 126,136, 146, the base station 132, or any combination thereof. The datacommunication connection 148 may include a wired connection, an opticalfiber connection, a wireless connection, other data connection (e.g., acellular data communication connection), or any combination thereof. Theone or more of the base stations 132 may each correspond to each of theone or more wireless cellular data communication compliant standardssupported by the plurality of cellular data networks 126, 136, 146.

The video transmission system 102 may include or may be operativelycoupled to one or more moderns 120 to transmit the data packets to thereceiver 140 via one cellular data network of the plurality of cellulardata networks 126, 136, 146. The one or more modems 120 may include oneor more wireless cellular data communication modems enabling wirelesscellular data communication via each cellular data network of theplurality of cellular data networks 126, 136, 146 according to the oneor more wireless data communication compliant standards. Each of the oneor more modems 120 may be communicatively coupled to a correspondingbase station 122 to facilitate a wireless cellular data communication118 with one cellular data network of the plurality of cellular datanetworks 126, 136, 146. For example, the cellular data network 126 maysupport 4G-LTE wireless cellular data communication, the cellular datanetwork 136 may support 4G wireless cellular data communication, thecellular data network 146 may support 3G wireless cellular datacommunication, and the one or more modems 120 may include a separatemodem for each of 4G-LTE, 4G, and 3G. In this example, base station 122includes a base station for each of 4G-LTE, 4G, and 3G. In a particularembodiment, the video transmission system 102 may use a selected modemof the one or more modems 120 to transmit the data packets via onecellular data network of the plurality of cellular data networks 126,136, 146 by communicating with the base station 122, via the wirelessdata communication 118.

During operation of the system 200, the network selector 224 may select,prior to transmission of the data packets, one cellular data network ofthe plurality of cellular data networks 126, 136, 146 to transmit thedata packets. The network selector 224 may determine whether eachcellular data network of the plurality of cellular data networks 126,136, 146 is available to transmit the data packets. To determine whethereach cellular data network of the plurality of cellular data networks126, 136, 146 is available, the network selector 224 may perform ananalysis of the wireless cellular data communication between the videotransmission system 102 and the receiver 140 via each cellular datanetwork of the plurality of the cellular data networks 126, 136, 146.The network selector 224 may utilize the one or more modems 120 toestablish the wireless cellular data communication with the receiver 140via each cellular data network of the plurality of cellular datanetworks 126, 136, 146. For example, the network selector 224 mayutilize the one or more modems 120 to establish an end-to-end linkbetween the video transmission system 102 and the receiver 140 via eachcellular data network of the plurality of cellular data networks 126,136, 146. The end-to-end link may identify each cellular data network ofthe plurality of cellular data networks 126, 136, 146 that is able toreceive the data packets. The network selector 224 may request thetransmission engine 116 to establish the wireless cellular datacommunication between the video transmission system 102 and the receiver140 via each cellular data network of the plurality of the cellular datanetworks 126, 136, 146.

The network selector 224 may perform an analysis on each cellular datanetwork of the plurality of available cellular data networks 126, 136,146 to select a particular cellular data network to transmit the datapackets. The analysis of the wireless cellular data communicationbetween the video transmission system 102 and the receiver 140 mayinclude determining whether the wireless cellular data communication issuitable to permit transmission of the data packets. For example, thenetwork selector 224 may determine whether one or more cellular datanetworks of the plurality of cellular data networks 126, 136, 146 iscapable of transmitting the data packets in real-time. The networkselector 224 may request the transmission engine 116 to perform ananalysis of each cellular data network of the plurality of cellular datanetworks 126, 136, 146 to determine which of the cellular data networks126, 136, 146 are capable of transmitting the data packets in real-time.

To determine whether a particular cellular data is capable oftransmitting the data packets in real-time, the network selector 224 maydetermine a status of the wireless cellular data communication betweenthe particular cellular data network and the receiver 140 based on oneor more QoS factors. The network selector 224 may request thetransmission engine 116 to determine the status. Each cellular datanetwork of the plurality of cellular data networks 126, 136, 146 maysupport real-time monitoring of QoS that may enable the one or more QoSfactors to be determined. For example, a cellular data network thatsupports the RTP standard may permit the one or more QoS factors to beobtained using RTCP messages. In a particular embodiment, determiningwhether a particular cellular data network is capable of transmittingthe data packets in real-time may include comparing one or more of theQoS factors for the particular cellular data network to the QoSthreshold. In another particular embodiment, determining whether theparticular cellular data network is capable of transmitting the datapackets in real-time may be based on determining whether latency of theparticular cellular data network 126 is below the latency threshold. Thenetwork selector 224 may select a particular cellular data network (anda corresponding modem) from one cellular data network of the pluralityof available cellular data networks 126, 136, 146 based on adetermination that the particular selected cellular data network iscapable of transmitting the data packets in real-time. In a particularembodiment, the network selector 224 may select the available cellulardata network that has the lowest latency among the plurality ofavailable cellular data networks 126, 136, 146 and that is capable oftransmitting the data packets in real-time. The transmission engine 116may then transmit the data packets from the video transmission system102 to the receiver 140 via the particular selected cellular datanetwork.

Selecting a cellular data network based on QoS and/or real-timecapability may increase a likelihood that the data packets will betransmitted in real-time. Further, selecting the cellular data networkprior to actual transmission of the data packets may increase alikelihood that the particular cellular data network has sufficientbandwidth to transmit the data packets in real-time without a need toaggregate bandwidth of one or more cellular data networks of theplurality of cellular data networks 126, 136, 146.

After receiving the data packets from the cellular data network 126, thereceiver 140 may process the data packets to obtain media content (e.g.,the digital broadcast grade video) for distribution. In a particularembodiment, the receiver 140 is a broadcast station that receives thedigital broadcast grade video from the data packets for distribution toone or more viewers of a television channel broadcast. By receiving thedata packets in real-time (or near real-time) via the cellular datanetwork 126, the digital broadcast grade video, in its entirety, may beobtained with little or no delay. Thus, the ability to receive thedigital broadcast video in real-time (or near real-time) may enable thedigital broadcast video to be distributed with minimal or no delay fromremote locations.

Referring to FIG. 3, a particular embodiment of a method to transmitdigital broadcast grade video is illustrated. The method 300 may beperformed by the video transmission system 102 in FIG. 1.

At 302, the method includes receiving a media stream that includesdigital broadcast grade video. For example, in FIGS. 1 and 2, the videotransmission system 102 may receive a media stream that includes digitalbroadcast grade video, audio data (e.g., digital audio), user data,other related data (e.g., control data, location information, time anddate information, and metadata tags), or any combination thereof.

At 304, the method further includes compressing the media stream to forma compressed digital media stream using a Joint Photographic ExpertsGroup 2000 compliant compression coding system. For example, in FIGS. 1and 2, the compression engine 112 may cause the video transmissionsystem 102 to compress the media stream using the J2K compliantcompression coding system. The compressed digital media stream formed bythe compression engine 112 may include a compressed representation ofthe digital broadcast grade video, the digital audio, othercompression-related data, or any combination thereof.

At 306, the method further includes converting the compressed digitalmedia stream into data packets. For example, in FIGS. 1 and 2, thepacketizer 114 may cause the video transmission system 102 to convertthe compressed digital media stream into the data packets. The datapackets may include internet protocol data packets, RTP data packets,other data packets, or any combination thereof.

At 308, the method further includes selecting a cellular data networkfrom a plurality of available cellular data networks based on one ormore QoS factors. For example, in FIG. 2, the network selector 224 maycause the video transmission system 102 to select the cellular datanetwork 126 from the plurality of available cellular data networks 126,136, 146 based on the one or more QoS factors. The network selector 224may determine the one or more QoS factors by requesting the transmissionengine 116 to establish wireless data communication connections betweenthe video transmission system 102 and the receiver 140 via each of theavailable cellular data networks 126, 136, 146. For example, thecellular data network 126 may be selected based on having a highestvalue of a particular QoS factor, such as bandwidth. In anotherembodiment, the cellular data network 126 may be selected based onhaving a lowest value of a particular QoS factor, such as latency. Inanother embodiment, the cellular data network 126 may be selected basedon data transmission within the cellular data network 126 that satisfiesa QoS threshold that is user-defined based on the one or more QoSfactors and that supports transmission of the data packets in real-time.

At 310, the method further includes transmitting the data packets viathe selected cellular data network. For example, in FIGS. 1 and 2, thetransmission engine 116 may cause the video transmission system 102 toutilize the modem 120 to transmit the data packets to the receiver 140,via the cellular data network 126. The video transmission system 102 maytransmit the data packets to the cellular data network 126 via the basestation 122 using the wireless cellular data communication 118. The basestation 122 in turn may communicate the data packets to the cellulardata network 126 to be communicated to the receiver 140.

In a particular embodiment, after receiving the data packets from thecellular data network 126, the receiver 140 may process the data packetsto obtain media content (e.g., the digital broadcast grade video) fordistribution. In a particular embodiment, the receiver 140 is abroadcast station that receives the digital broadcast grade video fromthe data packets for distribution to one or more viewers of a televisionchannel broadcast. By receiving the data packets in real-time (or nearreal-time) via the cellular data network 126, the digital broadcastgrade video, in its entirety, may be obtained with little or no delay.Thus, the ability to receive the digital broadcast video in real-time(or near real-time) may enable the digital broadcast video to bedistributed with minimal or no delay from remote locations.

Referring to FIG. 4, an illustrative embodiment of a general computersystem is shown and is designated 400. The computer system 400 caninclude a set of instructions that can be executed to cause the computersystem 400 to perform any one or more of the methods or computer basedfunctions disclosed herein. The computer system 400 or portions thereofmay operate as a standalone device or may be connected, e.g., using anetwork, to other computer systems or peripheral devices. For example,the general computer system 400, or portions thereof, may include or maybe included within the video transmission system 102, the video camera160, the modem 120, the base stations 122, 132, components of thecellular data network 126, the receiver 140, any combination thereof ofthe system 100 illustrated in FIG. 1, or any combination thereof of thesystem 200 illustrated in FIG. 2.

In a networked deployment, the computer system 400 may operate in thecapacity of a server or as a client user computer in a server-clientuser network environment, or as a peer computer system in a peer-to-peer(or distributed) network environment. The computer system 400 can alsobe implemented as or incorporated into various devices, such as apersonal computer (PC), a tablet PC, a personal digital assistant (PDA),a mobile device, a palmtop computer, a laptop computer, a desktopcomputer, a communications device, a wireless telephone, a land-linetelephone, a camera, a personal trusted device, a network router, switchor bridge, or any other machine capable of executing a set ofinstructions (sequential or otherwise) that specify actions to be takenby that machine. In a particular embodiment, the computer system 300 canbe implemented using electronic devices that provide voice, video ordata communication. Further, while a single computer system 400 isillustrated, the term “system” shall also be taken to include anycollection of systems or sub-systems that individually or jointlyexecute a set, or multiple sets, of instructions to perform one or morecomputer functions.

As illustrated in FIG. 4, the computer system 400 may include aprocessor 402, e.g., a central processing unit (CPU), a graphicsprocessing unit (GPU), or both. The processor 402 may be the processor104 of FIGS. 1 and 2. Moreover, the computer system 400 can include amain memory 404 and a static memory 406 that can communicate with eachother via a bus 408. The main memory 404, the static memory 406, or anycombination thereof may be the memory 106 of the FIGS. 1 and 2. Asshown, the computer system 400 may optionally include a video displayunit 410, such as a liquid crystal display (LCD), an organic lightemitting diode (OLED), a flat panel display, or a solid state display.Additionally, the computer system 400 may optionally include an inputdevice 412, such as a keyboard, and a cursor control device 414, such asa mouse. The computer system 400 may also optionally include a diskdrive unit 416, a signal generation device 418, such as a speaker orremote control, and a network interface device 420.

In a particular embodiment, the disk drive unit 416 may include acomputer-readable medium 422 in which one or more sets of instructions424, e.g. software, can be embedded. The instructions 424 may embody oneor more of the methods or logic as described herein. In a particularembodiment, the instructions 424 may reside completely, or at leastpartially, within the main memory 404, the static memory 406, and/orwithin the processor 402 during execution by the computer system 400.The main memory 404 and the processor 402 also may includecomputer-readable media.

In an alternative embodiment, dedicated hardware implementations, suchas application specific integrated circuits, programmable logic arraysand other hardware devices, can be constructed to implement one or moreof the methods described herein. Applications that may include theapparatus and systems of various embodiments can broadly include avariety of electronic and computer systems. One or more embodimentsdescribed herein may implement functions using two or more specificinterconnected hardware modules or devices with related control and datasignals that can be communicated between and through the modules, or asportions of an application-specific integrated circuit. Accordingly, thepresent system encompasses software, firmware, and hardwareimplementations.

In accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure, themethods described herein may be implemented by software programsexecutable by a computer system. Further, in an exemplary, non-limitedembodiment, implementations can include distributed processing,component/object distributed processing, and parallel processing.Alternatively, virtual computer system processing can be constructed toimplement one or more of the methods or functionality as describedherein.

The present disclosure contemplates a computer-readable medium thatincludes instructions 424 so that a device (e.g., the video transmissionsystem 102 of FIGS. 1 and 2) connected to a network 426 can communicatevoice, video or data over the network 426. The network 426 may be onecellular data network of the plurality of cellular data networks 126,136, 146. Further, the instructions 424 may be transmitted or receivedover the network 426 via the network interface device 420. The networkinterface device 420 may be any of the modems 120 of FIGS. 1 and 2.

While the computer-readable medium is shown to be a single medium, theterm “computer-readable medium” includes a single medium or multiplemedia, such as a centralized or distributed database, and/or associatedcaches and servers that store one or more sets of instructions. The term“computer-readable medium” shall also include any tangible,non-transitory medium that is capable of storing or encoding a set ofinstructions for execution by a processor or that cause a computersystem to perform any one or more of the methods or operations disclosedherein.

In a particular non-limiting, exemplary embodiment, thecomputer-readable medium can include a solid-state memory such as amemory card or other package that houses one or more non-volatileread-only memories. Further, the computer-readable medium can be arandom access memory or other volatile re-writable memory. Additionally,the computer-readable medium can include a magneto-optical or opticalmedium, such as a disk or tapes or other storage device. Accordingly,the disclosure is considered to include any one or more of acomputer-readable medium and other equivalents and successor media, inwhich data or instructions may be stored.

Although the present specification describes components and functionsthat may be implemented in particular embodiments with reference toparticular standards and protocols, the disclosed embodiments are notlimited to such standards and protocols. For example, standards forcommunication include RTP, TCP/IP, UDP/IP, HTML, HTTP, CDMA, TDMA, FDMA,OFDMA, SC-FDMA, GSM, EDGE, evolved EDGE, UMTS, Wi-Max, GPRS, 3GPP,3GPP2, 4G, LTE, 4G-LTE, HSPA, HSPA+, and Institute of Electrical andElectronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11x. Such standards are periodicallysuperseded by faster or more efficient equivalents having essentiallythe same functions. Accordingly, replacement standards and protocolshaving the same or similar functions as those disclosed herein areconsidered equivalents thereof.

The illustrations of the embodiments described herein are intended toprovide a general understanding of the structure of the variousembodiments. The illustrations are not intended to serve as a completedescription of all of the elements and features of apparatus and systemsthat utilize the structures or methods described herein. Many otherembodiments may be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reviewingthe disclosure. Other embodiments may be utilized and derived from thedisclosure, such that structural and logical substitutions and changesmay be made without departing from the scope of the disclosure.Additionally, the illustrations are merely representational and may notbe drawn to scale. Certain proportions within the illustrations may beexaggerated, while other proportions may be reduced. Accordingly, thedisclosure and the figures are to be regarded as illustrative ratherthan restrictive.

One or more embodiments of the disclosure may be referred to herein,individually and/or collectively, by the term “invention” merely forconvenience and without intending to voluntarily limit the scope of thisapplication to any particular invention or inventive concept. Moreover,although specific embodiments have been illustrated and describedherein, it should be appreciated that any subsequent arrangementdesigned to achieve the same or similar purpose may be substituted forthe specific embodiments shown. This disclosure is intended to cover anyand all subsequent adaptations or variations of various embodiments.Combinations of the above embodiments, and other embodiments notspecifically described herein, will be apparent to those of skill in theart upon reviewing the description.

The Abstract of the Disclosure is provided with the understanding thatit will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of theclaims. In addition, in the foregoing Detailed Description, variousfeatures may be grouped together or described in a single embodiment forthe purpose of streamlining the disclosure. This disclosure is not to beinterpreted as reflecting an intention that the claimed embodimentsrequire more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather,as the following claims reflect, inventive subject matter may bedirected to less than all of the features of any of the disclosedembodiments. Thus, the following claims are incorporated into theDetailed Description, with each claim standing on its own as definingseparately claimed subject matter.

The above-disclosed subject matter is to be considered illustrative, andnot restrictive, and the appended claims are intended to cover all suchmodifications, enhancements, and other embodiments, which fall withinthe scope of the disclosure. Thus, to the maximum extent allowed by law,the scope of the disclosure is to be determined by the broadestpermissible interpretation of the following claims and theirequivalents, and shall not be restricted or limited by the foregoingdetailed description.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method comprising: receiving a media stream ata media device, wherein the media stream is to be delivered to areceiving device; converting, at the media device, the media stream intodata packets; before transmitting the data packets: initiating, with themedia device, a plurality of end-to-end connections between the mediadevice and the receiving device, each of the plurality of end-to-endconnections corresponding to a single cellular network of a plurality ofcellular networks useable by the media device to transmit the datapackets to the receiving device; determining, at the media device, aquality of service factor for each cellular network of the plurality ofcellular networks based on the corresponding end-to-end connection forthe cellular network; and determining, at the media device, to transmiteach of the data packets via a particular cellular network based on acomparison of the quality of service factor for the particular cellularnetwork to the quality of service factors for other cellular networks ofthe plurality of cellular networks; and transmitting each of the datapackets from the media device to the receiving device via the particularcellular network without use of the other cellular networks.
 2. Themethod of claim 1, further comprising compressing the media stream priorto converting the media stream into data packets.
 3. The method of claim1, wherein the media stream comprises digital broadcast grade video. 4.The method of claim 3, wherein the media stream includes digital audioassociated with the digital broadcast grade video, metadata, datarelated to compression of the media stream, or combinations thereof. 5.The method of claim 1, wherein the media device comprises a videocamera.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the media stream is receivedby the media device from a post-production source.
 7. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the quality of service factor for each cellular networkincludes bandwidth, priority of traffic, throttle of traffic, latency,delay, jitter, packet loss, or combinations thereof.
 8. The method ofclaim 1, wherein determining the quality of service factor for eachcellular network includes obtaining the quality of service factor viareal-time transport control protocol.
 9. The method of claim 1, whereinthe receiving device is a component of a broadcast station configured todistribute the media stream via a television network.
 10. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the media device processes the media stream via abuffer without storage of the media stream in a stored file.
 11. Asystem comprising: a processor of a media device; and a modem coupled tothe processor; and a memory accessible to the processor, the memoryincluding instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause theprocessor to perform operations including: receiving a media stream,wherein the media stream is to be delivered to a receiving device;converting the media stream into data packets; before transmitting thedata packets: initiating a plurality of end-to-end connections to thereceiving device, each of the plurality of end-to-end connectionscorresponding to a single cellular network of a plurality of cellularnetworks useable to transmit the data packets to the receiving device;determining a quality of service factor for each cellular network of theplurality of cellular networks based on the corresponding end-to-endconnection for the cellular network; and determining to transmit each ofthe data packets via a particular cellular network based on a comparisonof the the quality of service factor for the particular cellular networkto the quality of service factors for other cellular networks of theplurality of cellular networks; and transmitting each of the datapackets with the modem to the receiving device via the particularcellular network, without use of the other cellular networks.
 12. Thesystem of claim 11, further comprising a compression engine to compressthe media stream.
 13. The system of claim 11, wherein a portion of thememory is configured as a buffer to enable processing of the mediastream without storage as a stored file.
 14. The system of claim 11,wherein the media stream comprises digital broadcast grade video. 15.The system of claim 11, wherein the processor and memory are integratedin a video camera.
 16. A computer-readable hardware storage devicestoring instructions that, when executed by a processor of a mediadevice, cause the processor to perform operations comprising: receivinga media stream, wherein the media stream is to be delivered to areceiving device; converting the media stream into data packets; beforetransmitting the data packets: initiating a plurality of end-to-endconnections to the receiving device, each of the plurality of end-to-endconnections corresponding to a single cellular network of a plurality ofcellular networks useable by the media device to transmit the datapackets to the receiving device; determining a quality of service factorfor each cellular network of the plurality of cellular networks based onthe corresponding end-to-end connection for the cellular network; anddetermining to transmit each of the data packets via a particularcellular network based on a comparison of the quality of service factorfor the particular cellular network to the quality of service factorsfor other cellular networks of the plurality of cellular networks; andtransmitting each of the data packets to the receiving device via theparticular cellular network without use of the other cellular networks.17. The computer-readable hardware storage device of claim 16, whereindetermining to use the particular cellular network comprises:determining a latency factor for each cellular network of the pluralityof cellular networks; and choosing the particular cellular network witha lowest latency factor as the particular cellular network.
 18. Thecomputer-readable hardware storage device of claim 16, wherein the mediastream comprises high definition video.
 19. The computer-readablehardware storage device of claim 16, wherein the media stream isgenerated by a video camera.
 20. The computer-readable hardware storagedevice of claim 16, wherein the media stream is received from apost-production system.